Final answer:
Okazaki fragments are the short DNA sequences synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication, which are later joined to form a continuous strand.
Step-by-step explanation:
During replication, the short single-stranded stretches of DNA that are created on the lagging strand are called Okazaki fragments. These are synthesized in the direction away from the replication fork, unlike the continuously synthesized leading strand.
Okazaki fragments are each initiated by an RNA primer, and DNA polymerase then adds DNA nucleotides until it reaches the primer of the preceding fragment. Following this, the RNA primers are replaced with DNA, and the fragments are joined together by the enzyme DNA ligase to form a continuous strand.